Combo breaker is a popular mechanic featured in the majority of fighting games – let’s explore the subject of this defensive move together!
What is a combo breaker?
In video games, a combo is a sequence of consecutive moves or attacks. If the moves are timed correctly, they connect without giving the opponent a chance to recover, stand up, or block incoming hits, dealing massive damage along the way.
To interrupt the opponent’s attack chain, players can perform a defensive move known as the combo breaker. By successfully doing so, a player can create space for themselves and regain at least partial control of the fight, allowing them to shift the dynamics of the match. The combo breaker mechanic was introduced to prevent one-sided beatdowns with no chance of recovery.
Combo breaker meaning in games
The presence of combo breakers is crucial for balanced gameplay in various fighting games. Here are some examples of famous productions including such move:
- Killer Instinct – the combo breaker is a signature feature of the series, originally introduced in the 1994 arcade game. It allows players to input a specific command matching the opponent’s attack strength to interrupt their combo.
- TEKKEN – while not being called a combo breaker per se, the series features “reversal” or “parry” moves (depending on a character), designed with interrupting and countering an enemy’s combo string in mind.
- Mortal Kombat – multiple versions of combo breaker are present in various parts of the series, such as the Breaker move (stopping the combo and knocking the attacker back, e.g. Mortal Kombat: Deception) or Air Breakaway (freeing the player from being juggled, e.g. Mortal Kombat 11).
While the combo breaker mechanic is implemented differently in every game, the ultimate goal of the move remains the same: to interrupt an opponent’s attack chain. It’s definitely worth it to learn how to perform such moves, as their usage may be crucial for victory!